Page 20 of The Love Rematch
“Night one is a beast,” Nina says sympathetically. “But it’s all downhill from here. You cut ten guys tonight, then five at the next ceremony, and just like that, you’ll be halfway through the suitors.”
She makes it sound so…formulaic. Which it is, Emily knows, but now having met all thirty men, she already feels guilty for what the next few weeks will bring.
“Nina.” Jake’s voice comes softly through the comm around her producer’s neck.
Emily stiffens as if electrocuted. Thirty men wait for her on the other side of the wall, and not a single one of them has caused the same heart-stopping reaction elicited by the whisper of his voice.
She needs that to change.
It’sgoingto change.
“Yeah,” Nina says into her mic.
“Ready when you are.”
“I’m ready,” Emily blurts and jumps out of the chair, desperate to get away from his voice, from his memory, from him. The second her heelsclickon stone, her poor toes scream in protest and she whimpers. She can already feel the blisters forming. “Ow, ow, ow.”
“Your feet?” Nina asks.
Emily nods.
“Leave it to me,” her producer says, giving her a slight push toward the door. “I’ll find some slippers and Jake can tell one of the guys to make a Cinderella moment out of it. That’ll play well with the viewers. In the meantime, remember what I told you. A little speech, and then enjoy. Some of the early guys have been drinking steadily for the past four hours while waiting for you, so don’t be surprised if there’s at least one person completely bombed in there. Happens every year. Just try to get to know as many of them as you can before the puzzle ceremony, which’ll be in about, oh, nine-ish hours.”
Good god. It might as well be nine years.
I’ll never make it.
“Oh, and I almost forgot,” Nina continues, either unaware of or choosing to ignore Emily’s groan. “If you need a break or want to be rescued or have to speak to me for any reason, our safe word isplatypus.”
“Platypus?” Her face twists.
“Yeah,platypus, because they look all cute and cuddly, but they’re actually venomous loners who don’t like to be touched, and what woman can’t relate to that, right?” Nina winks and nudges Emily with her elbow. “Good luck.”
Emily swallows as Nina backs out of the shot. An assistant comes to remove the folding chair, and the host ofThe Love Match, Keith Holson, emerges from the garden. It’s still surreal to see American’s dad, here in the flesh. He’s shorter and shinier than she ever imagined he would be, his light brown hair coiffed and his gray suit perfectly tailored. They already filmed two quick scenes together by the limos, but still, butterflies flutter as he approaches. She can’t help it. She’s a superfan ofThe Love Matchand even though she’s somehow now the star, the fangirl inside won’t quit.Keith Holsonis here.Keith Holsonis taking her hand.Keith Holsonis squeezing her fingers encouragingly and telling her that tonight is the start of her epic love story.
Somehow, she believes him.
At least, the first time. By takes four and five of the same prepared speech, the mystique has worn off a little, but she keeps the smile on her face. The butterflies switch to a nervous swarm as two production assistants dramatically throw the double front doors wide open, revealing a sea of handsome men waiting in the foyer. Emily sashays forward and takes a deep breath, giving herself an internal pep talk, then opens her mouth to begin her speech and—
“Cut!” Fred calls.
She deflates.
Those same two assistants usher her back through the door. Fans are moved into new locations. Lights are shuffled around. The doors are thrown dramatically open one more time, and—
“Cut!”
One more time. Then the cameras move inside, and she walks through the door a few more times until the lighting is perfect. It takes nearly half an hour to walk five feet into the mansion, and she can’t help but wonder if it’s a sign of things to come.
Why did this show always seem so real? So romantic?
Because it is, she tells herself, trying to ignore how manufactured it feels behind the scenes.My conversations with these men will be real. My moments with them will be real.
Nina gives her the go-ahead, and Emily snatches a glass of champagne from the offered tray, determined to make tonight count. For once, Jake is nowhere to be seen. It leaves her feeling lighter, freer, like a bird untethered and ready to fly.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” Emily starts, sticking to the script she and Nina prepared the night before. “I can’t believe my mom bullied the entire country into helping me find a boyfriend.” Some of the men laugh. Others cringe. She plows on, silently cursing Nina for convincing her to include that line. “I want you all to know how honored I am to have the opportunity to meet you. I’ve been a huge fan of the show since the first season, and I never imagined I would actually be here, feeling like Cinderella after she snuck into the ball, but it’s all real. I don’t have to run home at midnight. I get to stay, spend time with all of you, travel the world with some of you, and hopefully, by the end of this, fall in love. I really, truly believe my future husband is in this room, so—”
Movement catches her eye—a navy suit in the doorway.
